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It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.